Video 6:11
WA Premier defends new powers

Premier Colin Barnett discusses his time as leader, and the raft of new laws his government wants to enact.

Transcript

And my guest tonight had a view on that subject last year, when he said that total bans on smoking in alfresco areas and beach fronts would amount to a nanny State.

But Colin Barnett has a bigger fish to fry as he embarks on his second full year in power.

The Government is pushing through a raft of law and order legislation, cutting public sector spending and preparing for next wave of the commodities boom. I caught up with the Premier at his office earlier today.

Premier, welcome to Stateline.

COLIN BARNETT, WA PREMIER: Thank you. Eliza.

ELIZA BLUE: You've just had the Feds take a lot of money off you. We've got... you're shaping up for a big fight with two huge resources companies.

You were thinking of retirement before you actually became Premier. Are you sick of the job yet?

COLIN BARNETT: No, I'm loving the job, and this is the second full year of the Liberal National Government. I'm pleased with what we've done in our first year and I look forward to this year.

Are you worried at all that people won't feel that they're sharing in the spoils of the boom and maybe you'll get hit like the Carpenter government got hit?

COLIN BARNETT: I'm not worrying about that in a political sense, but I think it is fair to say that in previous boom periods some have prospered greatly, others have been hurt, and people have seen house and land prices rise.

They've ended up not being able to afford a home or ended up with a high mortgage and others feel just left behind.

So I'm quite determined in this next period of prosperity that the benefits of that are spread throughout our community.

ELIZA BLUE: We've seen some figures today; cash flow was still in a deficit there. You're not going to be getting as much money from the GST carve up as probably you hoped.

So how will you afford all of this?

COLIN BARNETT: Well, by managing our finances very well and being more efficient within government.

Yes, there's great expectations on Western Australia. The whole country is relying on Western Australia to lead this nation.

Now, you referred to the carve up of the Goods and Services Tax revenue. The changes announced today are devastating for Western Australia.

What really irks me - and I think it'll irk most Western Australians - when people buy something and pay their GST you would hope that 100 cents in the dollar comes back to Western Australia.

Now, I accept this is a prosperous State and we won't get 100 cents back, we have to help South Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania. But if you look at it, under the changes today, Western Australians will only get 68 cents in the dollar back; that is unfair.

Particularly when you look at New South Wales - 95 cents in the dollar back, Victoria - 93 cents in the dollar back, and even Queensland... even Queensland is getting 91 cents in the dollar back.

We are just being done over here. And on top of that, the Commonwealth Government wants to take away our mining royalty income. I just don't think Western Australians will accept this.

ELIZA BLUE: Speaking of income royalties, are you going to raise it across the board; the royalty rate?

COLIN BARNETT: Ah, we are looking at royalties as part of the budget deliberation, but no decision has yet been made on that, and if there is any change in royalties, it won't be a dramatic change.

ELIZA BLUE: What about royalties for regions? Other departments are being asked to pull back and there's been controversy this week that they'll be able to still use their full complement. Is it time to modify this scheme?

COLIN BARNETT: The fundamental aspect of Royalties for Regions is a 25 per cent of mining royalty will be spent in regional Western Australia.

Now, that is not open to debate. That is a commitment both the Nationals and the Liberal Party have made.

ELIZA BLUE: But are you worried about a perception of unfairness; that, you know, clearly it's fair that regional areas get money, but if that area's not being asked to pull back and other areas are being asked to pull back significantly, particularly the Health Department, the people might say 'hey, this is not fair'.

COLIN BARNETT: Well, there has been some pulling back in Royalties for Regions, as royalty income actually dropped during the financial crisis, and there was also a drop in what was expended. My concern is not how much is spent in regional Western Australia; it is more that the money is well spent.

ELIZA BLUE: On law and order Premier, do you genuinely feel that people in Western Australia, not just Northbridge, but people in WA feel less safe?

COLIN BARNETT: Ah, no I don't know that they feel less safe. I think they are more conscious of the amount of violent crime and unprovoked attacks.

ELIZA BLUE: Are you worried at all that by talking about this issue people are feeling less safe about this environment in WA?

COLIN BARNETT: Well, in the last year, crimes against people and property fell by nearly 9 per cent. I think that's a good result, and that is making people feel more confident.

I believe the people of Western Australia know they have a Government that is taking a tough position on law and order.

And some of the measures are controversial; mandatory sentencing for assaults on police officers, the stricter, if you like, stop and search powers applied in night club areas. They are tough, strong measures.

ELIZA BLUE: The legislation gives a lot of power to the Minister. He's able to sign off on which areas are declared and where the laws can operate.

Are you confident that he's up to that task of administering these laws?

COLIN BARNETT: Are you talk about the stop and search powers?

ELIZA BLUE: Yeah.

COLIN BARNETT: Yes I am, and I think Rob Johnson has led the charge on a strong position on law and order. On those powers, I think there's been a lot of misinformation about it.

Now, I recognise that it is a significant decision for a government to take; to say to the police you can stop and search someone without having to have good reason.

ELIZA BLUE: Surely it goes against key parts of our legal structure?

COLIN BARNETT: It is a strong position and I understand the point of view of those who oppose it, but a lot of the debate has been about that intrusive nature.

I just want to reassure people two things; the search will be a metal detector or walking through an arch as you would do at an airport - not obtrusive.

The search, if it is applied, would only apply late at night, in the early hours the morning in a designated area, parts of Northbridge is the obvious example.

Why? Because the police know there are significant numbers of people walk around with knives and other weapons; that's what it's about.